France Company Formations

France Company Registration

A private company in France is either incorporated as a SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) or a Sàrl (Société à Résponsibilité Limitée). The SAS is the newer type of company, and is especially used by non-residents.

Companies objects - a brief description of the intended activities of your company

One director and one shareholder is required for a Sàrl

The names and addresses of the directors and shareholders

Copy of the passports of the directors and shareholders

Percentage of the shares belonging to each shareholder.

Proof of the deposit of the paid-up capital deposited in a bank account opened in the company name

Incorporating a Sàrl

Check your company name with the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle

Due Diligence and drafting of the company documents

Bank Account introduction and share capital deposit

Company’s incorporation at the court

Upon receipt of the Certificate of Incorporation the bank account is activated

Liaising with Tax office to activate the VAT number

Authorised and Issued Share Capital

The minimum share capital is €1.

A Sàrl usually adopts a closed structure, so that share transfers only occur between existing shareholders or with the unanimous permission thereof.

The amount chosen is held with the notary, a bank or in a Caisse de Dêpot during the course of the formation of the company.

The share capital is unblockled as soon as the banker receives the Kbis Certificate.

Company Names

All departments in France have a register of company names and so most company names are allowed so long as it is not used by another company in the same department.

We will check your chosen company name with the the Register of the Commercial Courts and the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.

France is very liberal about which company names are allowed

Adding the word France after the company name is usually means you are a non French company

Common names, such as Hôtel de la Gare Sarl, will be repeated several times throughout France

A company name check can be carried out free of charge to see if a required name has already been registered

We can then reserve your Sàrl name for up to ten days.

Company Director (Gérant)

Only one director is required

Directors may be of any nationality

The legal representative of a Sàrl or a SAS company company is called a Gérant; which is the equivalent of a director in other countries.

If you wish to appoint a gérant who is not a resident of the EU or an OECD country then they will need state authorasation.

Company Shareholders

Only one shareholder is required

Corporation - full registered name, trading name, registered office address, company registration number, name and title of legal representative of the company

Individual - name, home address, profession, date and place of birth, nationality and marital status

It is not necessary that the shareholders be French, or reside in France.

Registered Office

A company in France must have a Registered Office, we can provide a registered office service in Paris.

French Bank Account

A french bank account is required for the share capital, the bank require a meeting which takes just over an hour.
At the end of the meeting,you will get details of the temporary share capital deposit account. With these details, a money transfer can be organised for the share capital. As soon as the bank receives the money, they issue an attestation, with this and the signed documents we register the company with the Chamber of Commerce..
When the company is formed the Chamber of Commerce issues a Kbis (Certificate of incorporation). We then send the Kbis to the bank, who will open the business bank account and release the share capital into it.

France Company Formations

We can incorporate your French company, according to your specifications, please complete our enquiry form below: